A fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran has brought temporary relief to global markets, but rising tensions and fresh violence underscore how uncertain the path to lasting peace remains. The US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before President Donald Trump’s deadline to take action against the country, triggering global relief alongside apprehension.
Tehran has agreed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s oil, gas and fertiliser passes, easing concerns for the battered global economy. According to the United Nations, the strait is a critical waterway for international trade.
Iran-US Conflict: A Path to Lasting Peace?
While the announcement was broadly welcomed internationally, much work remains to prevent a return to fighting, with UN chief Antonio Guterres calling for all parties to “pave the way towards a lasting and comprehensive peace”. Underlining the precarity of the deal, there were explosions in Bahrain’s Manama, with authorities blaming “Iranian aggression”.
Key Points of the Ceasefire Agreement
Both Tehran and Washington claimed to have won the more than month-long conflict, with Trump saying the deal was a “total and complete victory” for the US. Iran, too, cast the ceasefire as a win and said it had agreed to talks with the US beginning on Friday in Pakistan on a path to end the conflict.
- The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
- The Strait of Hormuz will be reopened for a period of two weeks.
- Talks between the US and Iran will begin on Friday in Pakistan.
The White House said Israel had also agreed to the ceasefire, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it does not include Lebanon, where Israel’s operation in response to rocket fire by Iranian-backed Hezbollah has killed more than 1,500 people, according to Lebanese authorities.
For more information on the conflict, visit the US Department of State website.</p)
